Variable-speed-transmitting mechanism



1-1.. a. TWOMLEY VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Aug. 21, 1923:

2 Sheefs-Sheer, 1

Filed June 2, 1921 Jim/enter,

an WWW M Aug. 21; 1923. 1,465,796

H. E. TWOMLEY VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'fnvezo 0r. 5; 7% I retested Aug, 21, was.

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HERBERT E. TWGIELEY, OF RIVERSIDE, GAL???=3R-1l'IU-l, ASSIGIH'O R TO D.

VPARKER, or nrvnnsrn'n, CALIFORNIA.

vARIABLnsrnnnmaensrarprme ianenanisiii. i

Application filed June 2,

Z "0 all who 11bit may," concern Be it lrnownethat I, Hammer E. TwoMLnY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, inthe county ofrR- verside and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable- Speed-Transmittin r ltlechanisin, oiwhich the following is a specification. I

The hereinafter described invention relates to mechanism whereby variable speed may be transmitted at will to power driven actuating means, and whereby a pluralityof said mechanisms may be actuated or driven simultaneously at varlable rates 0t speed, or actuated in variable timed relation, the object of the invention being the production of a compact form of variable speed transmlssion mechanism whereby a plurality of speed reductions, or a plurality oi timed movementsmay beobtained from a common source of power for the driving simultaneously of a plurality of mechanisms to be actuated from such common source of power, the variable speed transmissionv mechanism being or such a type as to permit of a plurality ofspeed reductions, or a plu- To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanylng draw' ings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1-1, Figure lof the drawings,

disclosing the shaft for supporting the variable speed transmitting mechanism, the

drive casing or drum keyed thereto, means within the casing or drum for transmitting variable speeds or movements from the drive casing or'drum, the concentric hubs of the respective driven gears within the casing or drum and loosely mounted relative to'the' supporting shaft, and the means for throwing or placing the respective driven gears, into or out of operating relation relative to the drive casing or drum, the drive casing or drum being illustrated in the present case as sub-divided centrally into two compartments by means of apartition wall or web.

Figure, 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of rality of timed operations to be transmi ted at diiterent speeds, or at different; operations, such as the operating oi"- 1921. Serial 119,474,462.

the operating gears located in one compar mentof the drive casing or drum, said view illustrating the ratios of the respective 7 v gears disclosed by Figure '2 of the drawings.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the irregular line 4:4, Figure 1 of the drawings, and viewed in the direction of the arrow. 1 i

. Figure 5'is a vertical sectional view taken on theline 55,.Figure 1. of the drawings, and viewed in. the direction of the arrow, said view illustrating one of the brake means employed in connection with the variable 1 speed transmitting mechanism, and

Figure 6 is a View of the supporting shaft with the supporting members removed therefrom.

In the drawings,-the numeral 1 is usedto designate an enclosed casing, shellor drum, to the periphery of which is secured a gear ring 2. Power is transmitted for imparting constant rotation to the casing, shell or drum 1 from any suitable form of power means 3' through the medium of a pinion 4 thereof intermeshing with the gear ring 2 of the casmgyshell or drum 1, so that'the said casing, shell" or drum constitutes the drive member for the variable speed transmitting mechanism.

Within the casing, shell or drum 1 are" contained the gears 5, 6, 7 and 8 situated in the present case in the compartment A thereof, and also thegears 9, 10, 11 and 12, which are situated inthe compartmentB of the casing, shell or drum 1. Through the easing, shell ordrum 1 is extended a supporting shaft 13, which is locked thereto by means of the key 1-; engaging the hub 15fof the web or'partition 16, whichdivides the interior of the'casing, shell ordrum into the compartments A and B. v

The gear 8 is providedwith' an extended hub 17 loosely mounted on one end portion of the shatIZ-l, and the gear 7 is provided with ant-intended hub 18 which surrounds and is loosely mounted on the hub 17 of the gear 8. From the gear 9 is extended thehub 19 which is loosely mounted on the opposite end portion or". the shaft 13, and from the gear 10 is extended a 'hub 20 which sur is adapted to he lockedor held against move; ment or rotation by means of a brake band 29 oneend of which is attached to a fixed supportw 0, while its opposite end is attached 'to a brake actuating lever 31, Figure 5 of the drawings. p r v T he supportin shaft 13 which sustains the various working parts of the speed transu'iitting mechanismworks within suitable bearings 32, and preferably to one end of the said shaft attached a crank 33, while the opposite end thereof carries an eccentric 34-. thus providing acrank and an eccentric at the respective ends of the shaft. 13, it

is possible to utilize the constant driven.

speed of the shaft for actuating movable parts of'power mechanism timed speed of operation. whereby the rotation of the drum 1 is utilized for the actuating at different rates or" speed, or ratherat different timed movement independently operated pieces of mechanism or machinery.

The sea rs 5 and 6 are pinned together and rotate arounda stud 35 which holds the same to the web or partition wall 16 of the casing, shell or drum. while thegears 11 and 12 are pinned together and mounted for free rotation on a stud which holds the same to the said partition wall orweb 16, and 'in the interior compartment thereof opposing the compartment in w the gears 5 and'6 are mounted. The intcrineshinggears :5-7,

'6-8. and the companion intermeshing gears S ll. and 10-1.2 are each of a d'ilferent ratio. so that rotation transmitted to gears 78 will be ata dif 'erent speed.and the rotation transmitted from gears 11 12 to the intermesh'ing' gears 9 1) resg'iective'ly will be at a different rate of speed, and the rate of speed at which the gears 9-10 are drivenwill be at a rate di'fi erentfrom that at which the gears 'Z-c are driven respectively.

It will. be understood that the hub 37 of" the casino shell or drum 1 revolves around the hub extensions 18 and 20 of the gears 7 and 10 respectively. and asthe gears 5-6 12 revol e with the drive'casmgr and 11 shell or drum 1. and as they mesh respectively with the 7-8 and 9-10, the d gears will be caused to revolve with the respective gears meshing: therewith and carried by the drive casing. shell or drum- 1. and

as the teeth ratio of the respective gears differ. the speed which the gears 7. 8. 9.

and 10 driven will respectively be varied.

it will be understood that when the brake imparted or transmitted'to the gears on the respective hubs for the operating of power mechanism, although power will be trans mitted. in the present case from the shaft 13 to suitable mechanisms to be operated through the'mediuin of the cranlr' and eccentric car? .rred by said shaft, and which is continuously rotating shaft. Of course instead o'f' a cranlrand an eccentric being'united to said shaft for operating independent pieces of mechanism, the same result may be attained by the substitution of gears for the crank and the eccentric, the gear ratio of the said gears being different. 7

As the shaft 13 's a continuously driven one from the casing shell or drum 1, and carries 'aflix'ed theretotwo power transmitting pieces, as for instance the crank and eccentric, it is apparent that during the continuous movement of the shaft there is transmitted power to two different pieces of mechanism which may be operated in timed relation or drivenat different rates of speed depending upon the character of the power transmitting means held to the shaft.

Treating these means asctwo ind'epende-nt.

means for actuating two separated pieces of power mechanism, the form of variable power transmitting. mechanism shown and described herein is capable of simultaneously operating four independent pieces of power mechanism. two pieces being thrown into action by the transmitting means secured to the shaft 13. and two by means of two of the gears secured to the respective hubs projected outside of the casing. shell or drum 1'.

In operation. assuming the brake drums 22 and 26 tobe locked against movement by their brake bands, the hubs 17 and 19 will be held against rotation with the result that the gears 6 and 11 located respectively within the compartments A and B of the drive casing, shell. or drum lwill work respectively oventhe held'gears 8 and which, so to speak, act at such time as fixed racks; the gears 6 and 11 causing by their intermeshing engagement with the fixed" gears 8 and 9. to transmit power from the drive casing, shell or drum 1 respecti l el'y to the gears 5 and 12 pinned thereto, and as these gears intermesh.respectively with the gears 7 and 10 located respectively within the compartments A and B of the casing, shell or drum 1. power will be transmitted to-the sleeves 18 and' 20 for driving;respectively the gears 23 and 27 for actuat ng" simultaneously power means associated therewith. If the brake drums 22 and 26 are released and the brake drums 24 and 28 are held acs-yes z a locked against movement, the hubs 18 and 20 respectively willbe held against rotation, with the result that gears 5 and 12 will work over the held gears 7 and 10 respectively, as racks, and transmit power to the gears 6 and li respectively to the inter- As the respective gears of the transmitting mechanism differ as to ratio, it is apparent that when any two power gears of the series of concentric hubs have power transmitted thereto from thedrive casing, shell or drum 1, they act in conjunction with the drive means carried by the shaft 13 for actuating four independent I pieces of mechanism, either for driving the same at different rates of speed or at various timed movement. v i

By the described mechanism, a pl rality of power driven means is thrown into operation simultaneously for the power driving or operating of independent pieces of mechanism at diderent rates or speedor in diilerent timed relation. 7

While preference is given to the subdividing interiorly of the casing, shell or drum 1 into serrated compartments, and embodying in each compartment a plurality of independently controlled drive gear means, such is not essential, inasmuch as all of the variable speed transmitting means may be embodied, within a single compartment; nor is it to'be understood that the invention is limited in any manner'whatsoever to the specific number or" variable power transmit'ing means shown and described, inasmuch as the same may be increased or decreased in number asdesired. The essentia a ture of the invention is the providing of means whereby the power of the drive member may be transmitted in such a manner as to simultaneously operate a plurality of power transmitting means for the actuation oi a plurality of machine elements or independent power mechanisms driven ither at different rates of speed or in various timed relation, and I do not wish'to be understood as confining or limiting the invention to the specific form of details of the working parts, as herein shown and de scribed, but on the contrary wish to be understood as elaiming the invention as broadly as the state of the art 'ill warrant.

It is apparent that in place of transmitting gears 21, Q8 27 and 29 secured to the concentrio hubs 1. 18, 19 and 20 respectively, cams, eccentrics and cranks may beemployedfor transmitting the power of the drive member to the mechanical parts to be placed into operation thereby, there being no intent to restrict the means employed in connection with the concentric hubs for transmitting power therefrom tov gears.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. In a variable speed'power transmission mechanism, the, combination with a supporting'shaft, ofa power driven drive drum keyed thereto, a plurality. of transmission gears within and carried by'the drive drum,

' said ears bein arran ed in )airs withthe gears forming each pair lreycd one to the other and normally working as idle gears, a plurality of concentric hubs loosely mounted on the supporting shaft .andjeigtended within the drum, a gearsecurcd to the inner end of each hub and one in mesh reaped tively with one ofthe gears of eachpair of gears secured to and carried by the drive drum, said intermeshing gears having a different ear ratio, an actuating gear se cured to each hub at point removed from the drive'drum, and means associated with each concentric hub whereby one hub may be held locked against movement relative to the other, so that its inner gear causes the 7 gear within the drum rintermeshing there with to act as the means for causing power of the drive drum to be transmitted for actuating the companionmeshing gear to apply power to the loose concentric hub associated with theloclzed hub. V

2. variable speed power transmission mechansm, comprising in combination a drive member, a plurality of gears held togcther of different gear ratio secured to and carried by-the drive member as normal idle gears, a plurality of transmitting gears in mesh with said idle gears, concentric hubs extending from said transmitting gears-and each carrying a power. actuating gear, a

supporting shaft on which said hubs are loosely mounted and .to which the drive memberis keyed brake mechanism for boldingione hub and its gear locked against ro 'tation while leaving associate 'hub and gears free for movement, and means secured-to and carried by the supporting shaft for transmitting movement to mechanism to be driven independent of the mechanism to be driven by the actuating gears of the concentric hubs. V

. 3. A power transmission mechanism adapted for simultaneously driving a plurality of independent and separated mechanism either at different rates of speed or with different timed movement, the same comprising a driving member, pairs of con-v nected normally idle power transmitting gears carried thereby, intermediate gears in mesh with the transmitting gears of the 7 drive member, hub extensions; projected from the intermediate gears, devices forholding one of said hubs locked against movement while allowing the other to rotate under power transmitted thereto from the"dr'ive member through the medium of the inter-' meshing gears, one of which is held agalnst rotation by the locked hub, a supporting shaft to which the drive member is'keyed and on which the hub extensions are loosely supoorted, and means actuated by the said shaft ano the non-locked hub for imparting power to and actuating mechanism tobe driven at different rates of speed or vying timed relation.

1L1 transmission mechanism adapted for ting variable movements simultaneyto a plurality of independent mechan- 1 units to be power driven, comprising in combinationa -di' therefor, plurality of pairs'of' 1' associated gears,.each pair loosely cl on stud secured to thedrivem'ember, a plurality of concentric hubs mounted 'on the shaft for independentrotary movement, a transmission gear secured to the in-' nor end of each hub held in meshed relation with one of the loosely mounted gears of each pair, ineansfor locking either of the concentric hubs at will against rotation while leaving the companion hub free to rotate, whereby the gear of the locked hub serves as a rack to cause the gear meshing ptherewi'th to transmit through its coinpan- 7 ion gear to the gear of the loose hub power of the drive member, means carried by each hub for transmitting the power applied thereto when not held against movement to mechanism to be 'lriven, and means secured to the supporting shaft for independently whereby a plurality of said hubs may be ve member, a support 'anism, the oomltii-nation with a V f 7 inesfiee simultaneously "power driven ijat variable speeds relatively to one another, and means associated with each of the hubs for selectivel loci-ring either or a plurality-thereof against rotation for the purposesdescribed.

o. A transmission mechanism adapted to impart variable speedv or var able time movements simultaneouslyto a plurality ofme'chan'iea l means to be power driven, the sw ne comprising a shaft, a pow'er driven drive drum keyedlthereto and having its interior divided into a plurality of compartments, a'plurality of pairs of united transmission gears loosely mounted in each compartments, a plurality of pairs n'rsn respectively with the transmission gearsof sa'id 'pair's held therein, hub ex; tended from each driven gear and :concentrically mounted in pairs at opposite sides of driven gears in said compartments in of the drum for independent rotation about the supporting shaft, a power transmitting gear secured to each of said hubs eXteri'orly of'the drum, and means'asso'eiated with the respective hubs eXteriorly ofthe drum for selectively locking one or a plurality of the hubs against-'n'iovement', whereby the power of the drive shaft is transmitted through the intermeshing gears to the nonheld hubs for the purpose described.

7. In a variable speed transmission mechst1p :-ortii r shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, meansfor driving the drum, a pluralityof pairs'of pinion gears rotatably mounted with-in the drain, the gears of 'each pair being of different diameter and, united to rotate, in unison, a plurality of concentric hubs rotatably mounted on said shaft and arrange in pairs to extend one pair from opposite sides of the drum, a gear on the inner endof the hubs of each pair, said gears being of differentdiameter adapted one to mesh with a gear of said pinion gears, and" a gear and brake band pulley associated with each hub eXteriorly of the drum, said gears differing in diameter.

In testimony whereof I name to this specification.

HERBERT E. TWOMLEK- have signed my 

